Swedger apparatus

ABSTRACT

A swedger apparatus is provided for use in enlarging the inner diameter and surface of a tube or pipe, which is to be joined to an adjacent tube or pipe by the overlapping of the ends thereof, such as tailpipe and a muffler therefor. This swedger apparatus consists of a pneumatically and hydraulically operated mechanism having a frustro-conical shaped ram at one end thereof. An assembly is provided which has a plurality of circumferentically arranged segments formed with a frustro-conical inner surface for engaging with the frustro-conical outer surface of the ram. These segments or fingers are arranged to move outwardly and radially by the ram to expand the inner diameter of a pipe or tube. A control mechanism is provided for controlling the position of the ram in its engagement with the plurality of segments of the segment assembly. If desired, an adapter ring having a plurality of circumferentially arranged segments positioned for radial movement can be provided for enlarging the inner diameter of a larger pipe or tube which is to be swedged.

United States Patent [191 Nigido 1 SW EDG ER APPARATUS Salvatore A.Nigido, 141 Fairmount Dr., Belair, Md. 21014 22 Filed: Apr. 8, 1974 21Appl. No.: 458,732

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 295,865, Oct,10, 1972,

[76] Inventor:

Primary Examz'nerLowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or FirmWalter G.Finch 1 1 June 10, 1975 [57} ABSTRACT A swedger apparatus is providedfor use in enlarging the inner diameter and surface of a tube or pipe,which is to be joined to an adjacent tube or pipe by the overlapping ofthe ends thereof, such as tailpipe and a muffler therefor. This swedgerapparatus consists of a pneumatically and hydraulically operatedmechanism having a frustro-conical shaped ram at one end thereof, Anassembly is provided which has a plurality of circumferenticallyarranged segments formed with a frustro-conical inner surface forengaging with the frustro-conical outer surface of the ram. Thesesegments or fingers are arranged to move outwardly and radially by theram to expand the inner diameter of a pipe or tube A control mechanismis provided for controlling the position of the ram in its engagementwith the plurality of segments of the segment assembly. If desired, anadapter ring having a plurality of circumferentially arranged segmentspositioned for ra dial movement can be provided for enlarging the innerdiameter of a larger pipe or tube which is to be swedged.

1 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures SWEDGER APPARATUS This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 295,865, filed Oct. 10, 1972, now abandoned.

This invention relates to apparatus for enlarging the inner diameter andsurface of a tubular member, and more particularly to a swedgingapparatus for swedging the end of a tube of pipe which is to be mated toan adjacent tube or pipe.

In the past, there has been difficulty encountered in effectively,efficiently and expeditiously overlapping mating of a tube or pipe to anadjacent tube or pipe, such as a muffler and the tailpipe of anautomobile. There are instances where the end of the tailpipe or themuffler may have dents or wrinkles therein that must be straightened outbefore mounting the parts together.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a swedgingapparatus for effectively, efficiently, and expeditiously shaping andswedging the ends of tubular members so that they will mate properly.

And another object of this invention is to provide a swedging apparatusthat is easy to operate, efficient and reliable in operational use, andwhich is economical to operate and maintain.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a swedgingapparatus, with an adapter, for enlarging the ends of tubular members ofvarious diameters.

And to provide a swedging apparatus which is versatile and compact forenlarging tubular members. is still another object of this invention.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will becomemore readily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an explosed side view of a swedger incorporating features ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a view ofa first pipe to be swedged to a second pipe:

FIG. 3 is a view of a first pipe swedged to a second P p FIG. 4 is aside elevation, partially in cross section, showing a pipe to be swedgedpositioned on the swedger of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the swedger and pipe of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation, partially in cross section, showing theswedger being actuated and the end of the pipe enlarged;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the swedger and enlarged pipe of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation, partially in cross section, of a swedgershowing an adapter ring being used (for larger diameter pipes) with thepipe positioned on the swedger;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the swedger and pipe of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, partially in cross section, showing theswedger with the adapter ring being actuated and the end of the pipeenlarged; and

FIG. 1] is an end view of the swedger and pipe of FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown generally apneumatically hydraulically operated swedger device 10 for use inenlarging the inner diameter D of a pipe or tube 42, shown in FIG. 2, tothe inner diameter D of the pipe 44 shown in FIG. 3.

This swedger device 10 consists of a frustro-conical shaped ram 12 whichhas a ram attaching screw 34 on one end thereof for attachment to aplunger 30 positioned in a pump housing 46. The plunger 30 is providedin the pump housing 46 for moving the ram 12 as desired.

The device 10 is provided with an air intake 22 and an air exhaust port28. It is also provided with an air control button 24, and a rampressure release lever 26.

A coupling housing 14 which is internally threaded at the left end isprovided for attachment to the threaded exterior end of the pump housing46. The right enlarged externally threaded end of the coupling housing14 is closed by an internally threaded cap 18.

On the inside of the coupling housing 14 there is provided a fingerassembly 16 which consists of a plurality of externally shapedfrustro-conical shaped segments or fingers 38. Finger retaining springs36 positioned at the opposite ends of the finger assembly [6 hold thesegments or fingers in position.

An adapter ring 20 is also provided which has fingers or segments 40arranged around the circumference of the ring 20. The segments orfingers 40 are maintained in position on the ring 20 by the fingerretaining springs 36 located at opposite ends of the ring 20. Theadapter ring 20 is used on large diameter pipe 42 as will be describedsubsequently.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown an assembledswedger device 10 with all of the parts in assembled position mountedwith the fingers or segments 38 in position adjacent the inner diameterof a pipe or tube 42 which is to be enlarged or swedged from an innerdiameter D to an inner diameter D shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and FIGS. 5and 7, respec tively.

As previously mentioned, the air control button 24 controls the airflowing through the air input 22 which actuates a hydraulic pump in theswedger device 10. This causes the frustro-conical shaped ram 12 to bepushed out by the plunger 30 in the direction of the arrow 32, shown inFIG. 6, to the position shown therein.

The ram 12, when it is pushed out, engages the inner frustro-conicalsurface of the fingers or segments 38 (which are held in place by thesprings 36) and expands them radially and uniformly. Such movements ofthe segments or fingers 38 enlarges the inner diameter D of the pipe oftube 42 to the inner diameter D as shown best in FIG. 6.

When the inner diameter D of the pipe or tube 42 is too large for thefingers or segments 38, the adapter ring 20 is positioned between thefinger assembly 16 and the inner surface of the tube or pipe 42, asshown in FIGS. 8 and 10, to enlarge the inner diameter of the tube orpipe 42 from an inner diameter D to inner diameter D as shown in FIGS. 7and 9 respectively.

It is to be noted that the swedger device 10 should be rotated withinthe pipe or tube 42 to assure that a rounded enlarged inner surface isobtained for the pipe or tube 42.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. Swedger apparatus for enlarging the inner diameter and surface of apipe, comprising:

a tapered ram having a frustro-conical configuration;

an impulse producing device having a pump housing with hydraulic meanstherein, means for actuating said hydraulic means, a plunger within thepump housing and engageable at one end with said ram, said hydraulicmeans forcing the plunger and said ram toward the end opening of a pipeto be enlarged;

housing means attachable to said impulse producing device and housingthe ram substantially therein, the housing means having an outer endportion;

cap means attachable to the outer end portion of the housing means andhaving a centrally disposed aperture therein; and.

expander means for engagement with the interior surface of a pipe to beenlarged, said expander means being disposed in the aperture in said capmeans and having a central tapered cavity for receiving at least aportion of the ram centrally therein, the expander means including aplurality of segments of frustro-conical configuration circumferentiallyarranged for radial movement wherein the surface of the ram engages theinner surfaces of the segments to force said segments in a radialdirection and against the inner surface of the pipe on movement of theram in a direction coincident with the longitudinal axes of the pipe andtoward the open end thereof, the segments of the expander means furtherhaving flange-like inner end portions which are disposed within thehousing means and abut, on forwardly disposed surfaces of said portions,portions of the interior surface of the cap means, movement of the ramto a predetermined degree for causing radial expansion of the segmentsacting to cause outer perimetric portions of the flange-like inner endportions to abut against the interior surface of the outer end portionof the housing means, and an adapter ring mountable on the expandermeans externally of the housing means and cap means and including aplurality of segments circumferentially arranged for radial movementagainst the interior surface of the pipe on radial movement of theplurality of segments comprising the expander means.

1. Swedger apparatus for enlarging the inner diameter and surface of apipe, comprising: a tapered ram having a frustro-conical configuration;an impulse producing device having a pump housing with hydraulic meanstherein, means for actuating said hydraulic means, a plunger within thepump housing and engageable at one end with said ram, said hydraulicmeans forcing the plunger and said ram toward the end opening of a pipeto be enlarged; housing means attachable to said impulse producingdevice and housing the ram substantially therein, the housing meanshaving an outer end portion; cap means attachable to the outer endportion of the housing means and having a centrally disposed aperturetherein; and, expander means for engagement with the interior surface ofa pipe to be enlarged, said expander means being disposed in theaperture in said cap means and having a central tapered cavity forreceiving at least a portion of the ram centrally therein, the expandermeans including a plurality of segments of frustro-conical configurationcircumferentially arranged for radial movement wherein the surface ofthe ram engages the inner surfaces of the segments to force saidsegments in a radial direction and against the inner surface of the pipeon movement of the ram in a direction coincident with the longitudinalaxes of the pipe and toward the open end thereof, the segments of theexpander means further having flange-like inner end portions which aredisposed within the housing means and abut, on forwardly disposedsurfaces of said portions, portions of the interior surface of the capmeans, movement of the ram to a predetermined degree for causing radialexpansion of the segments acting to cause outer perimetric portions ofthe flange-like inner end portions to abut against the interior surfaceof the outer end portion of the housing means, and an adapter ringmountable on the expander means externally of the housing means and capmeans and including a plurality of segments circumferentially arrangedfor radial movement against the interior surface of the pipe on radialmovement of the plurality of segments comprising the expander means.